Best of The Herd

Lakers got swept by Oklahoma City, and playing a great team stripped away the excuses. This was not about stars; it was about how one roster is built for today’s league and the other is stuck chasing names, short on shooters, rim protection, and value depth while plodding along as the slowest playoff team again.

I value continuity, but if we’re serious about a title, we have to be honest about where we are. We’re not there right now, and the next couple months are for tough decisions.

The modern NBA mirrors the NFL: you pay two or three stars because you crush value in the middle and bottom of the roster. OKC nails picks and role fits; the Lakers have let defenders walk, are light on wings, and can’t keep convincing themselves the return of their injured star fixes all of it while the West’s young cores surge.

On the NFL schedule drip: the league has thrived even with New York and Chicago down, but I think big markets swing back this year. I’ve got both L.A. teams, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, and Philly rising, the Giants as my most improved, and Dallas sitting just outside the top tier on talent alone.

Was that LeBron’s last game in purple and gold? I doubt it. His family loves L.A., he values the lifestyle, but the Lakers hold leverage, and the fit is clumsy with multiple ball-dominant pieces; they badly need off-ball wings who defend and score without touches, and those are hard to buy.

I really don’t know what’s next. I’ll step back, be with my family, and when it’s time you’ll hear my decision.

Because the Lakers must pay their key role guys, LeBron might be the one to trim his number. I think he’d consider it; he’s wired to compete and does not want another season ending like this.

Brady always knew the cap trade-off. LeBron’s still elite, just in shorter bursts, so the question is whether he’ll take less. I’d re-sign the promising guard on a tradable number, showcase him, then deal for wings, because the West is a gauntlet and this roster is lopsided.

I hope LeBron stays, but the pay-cut drumbeat is unfair. Other stars cash huge checks without the lecture, and he was still one of the most impactful players in these playoffs; anything below the one-year max is charity.

I feel better about LeBron and worse about the Lakers’ distance from OKC. Even if he walks, there’s no magic cap space, and cap space matters less now anyway; their best shot might have been the first two years.

On paying that guard top dollar, I’d pass if it’s a full-blown max because he gets targeted in May and June. You need flexibility to pivot.

You can’t let him leave for nothing; he’s an asset and can improve. Even post-LeBron, the team may realize the best running mate for their star was the forty-something who just carried them.

OKC’s physical defense is fine; think Legion of Boom setting the tone. The real eyesore is flopping and theatrics—enforce the rules consistently and the behavior will correct itself.

Knicks are flying and Boston suddenly looks thin. I’ve long said the gap between Tatum and Brown is smaller than it looks, and the cap squeeze makes their depth problem louder.

Boston needs a retool, and I could see Giannis as their answer with Jalen Brown as the centerpiece, either directly to Milwaukee or via Atlanta routing picks back to the Bucks.

Quick NFL close: we’ve hammered Buffalo for years because they ran into dynasties, but the roster looks strong again. They feel undervalued.

I’m leaning one way on an AFC pick, but I’m surveying the board. Good to catch up.

Always great, buddy. Talk soon.